Below you find our video with step-by-step tutorial on how to tune your snowboard or splitboard.

Are you planning to tune your snowboard or splitboard yourself? Make sure you have the right materials on hand:

  • Clean cloth: for removing dirt.
  • Edger: holder for your tuning stone to tune the side of the snowboard.
  • File: medium tuning stone for tuning.
  • Oxyd stone: for removing burrs and damage.
  • Diamond file: fine tuning stone for polishing and repairing small damages and burrs.
  • Grinding rubber: to dull the initial sharpness of the contact points.
  • Cup of water.
  • Optional: Stand or holder to secure your snowboard.

Preparation

Before you start tuning, it's useful to remove the bindings from your board and place the board stably on its side. In our webshop, you'll find special holders for this, but of course, you can also use something else as long as the board is steady. Start by removing dirt from the steel edge with a clean cloth.

Are you working with a splitboard? Tune the two separate parts individually.

Step 1: Remove burrs

Burrs are small protrusions on the steel edge caused by damage during use. Gently run your finger along the edge to feel for any irregularities. The irregularities (burrs) you feel can be removed using the oxyd stone (whetstone). 

We start with the base edge, which is the steel edge at the bottom of your board. Move the tuning stone gently back and forth along the steel edge. Does your snow- or splitboard have a clear front and back? If so, start at the front and move towards the back. You’re done when you no longer feel any burrs along the steel edge. Finish by removing any residue from the edge with your clean cloth.

Now we move on to the side edge, which is the steel edge along the side of your board. Insert the oxyd stone into the edger and adjust the edger to the correct angle. The most commonly used angle for the side edge is 88 or 89 degrees. The smaller the angle, the sharper the edge and the more aggressive the board. If the angle is correctly set, start moving the tuning stone gently back and forth along the steel edge from the front to the back of your board (tip to tail). Is the side edge also completely smooth and free of irregularities? Finish by removing all residue with the cloth and proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Create the correct angle

With the edger, you create the correct angle on the side edge of your snowboard. Insert the file into the edger. Check that the edger is still set to the correct angle and make sure the file is correctly placed in the edger. On the file, you’ll find an arrow that should point in the direction you are moving. Move the edger in short strokes from the front to the back of your snow- or splitboard. Do this with evenly distributed pressure. You are done when you no longer feel resistance. It’s a precise task, as it greatly affects the characteristics of your snowboard or splitboard. And again finish with the cloth.

Step 3: Polishing

For polishing the steel edge, use the diamond file. Wet the diamond file before use. This helps the file last longer. 

Start with the base edge and gently move the diamond file back and forth along the steel edge at the bottom of your board. Once again, move from front to back and finish by wiping the steel edge with the cloth.

Next, place the diamond file in the edger and polish the side edge. Make sure to use the same angle as in the previous steps. Move the edger from front to back and work your way from the front of the board to the back. Finish by wiping the edge with the cloth to remove any residue.

Step 4: Detuning the tip and tail

In this final step, we detune the contact points of the snow- or splitboard. By detuning, you reduce the initial sharpness of the edges, making the board less catchy and more forgiving. Use a grinding rubber for this.

Place your snowboard on a flat surface to identify where the contact points are, this depends on the profile of your snowboard. The points where the steel edge touches the surface and makes contact with the snow are the contact points. Stabilize your snowboard on its side again and rub the grinding rubber over the contact points. Once again, finish with the cloth. 

Repeat all the steps to tune the other side of your board. 

And that’s how you tune your snowboard or splitboard yourself! After tuning your board, it’s important to wax it. Only then will you achieve optimal glide performance in the snow. Check out our article on waxing your snowboard or splitboard for tips on how to do it yourself.